The News Matrix: Monday 11 February 2013

Baby boy recovering after fox attack

A one-month old boy was said to be recovering well last night after having his finger bitten off by a fox in his bedroom in South-east London.

Surgeons reattached the finger in a three-hour operation, with the child also suffering facial wounds after the attack in Bromley. Paul Dolan and Hayley Cawley, 28, are with their son, Denny, at Evelina Children's Hospital. MORE

Resignation blow to Angela Merkel

The resignation of Germany's Education Minister, after being stripped
of her doctorate for plagiarism, has resulted in a dip in the polls for
Chancellor Angela Merkel, depriving her of a close ally. Annette Schavan quit after a university ruled she had copied parts of her thesis. MORE

Families to sue Bristol hospital

Up to 10 families are believed to be taking legal action against a hospital over its treatment of newborn babies and young children who died or suffered complications during treatment. University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is accused of a catalogue of neglect.

Gove 'spads' accused of 'intimidation'

Michael Gove, the Education Minister, and his senior advisers may have to appear before MPs in the wake of allegations that intimidating tactics have been used against critics of his policies. A senior civil servant has received a £25,000 payout after a lengthy grievance procedure.

Fisherman's Friends manager dies

Tributes have been paid to Fisherman's Friends manager Paul McMullen,
who died after he was trapped under a metal door. Another man, Trevor Grills, a member of the Cornish-based 10-piece shanty singing group, was
in hospital last night with serious injuries. MORE

After the snow the clean-up begins

Thousands of people across large swathes of the north-eastern United States and eastern Canada were cleaning up after a huge snowstorm at the
weekend. Several people died, among them an 11-year-old boy. MORE

Man arrested on suspicion of murder

A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a three-year-old girl.

An ambulance was called to an address in Beck Road, Shiregreen, Sheffield, on Friday evening and a girl was taken to the city's Children's Hospital. She died at 12.20am at the hospital on Saturday.

LAPD to re-examine fugitive's firing

Charlie Beck, the chief of Los Angeles police, said it plans to re-examine the 2008 firing of former officer Christopher Dorner, who is wanted over threekillings. A massive manhunt for the fugitive stretches from a southern California to the Mexican border. Mr Beck has urged the
former officer to turn himself in. MORE

O'Farrell plans to take Huhne's seat

Comedy writer John O'Farrell plans to succeed Chris Huhne as MP for Eastleigh, after announcing his surprise candidacy on Twitter. Labour will announce tomorrow whether O'Farrell will be its by-election candidate for 28 February. MORE

Tears as biggest crocodile dies

The world's largest saltwater crocodile in captivity died yesterday, reducing villagers to tears in a remote Philippine town that shot to fame because of the reptile.

Thrifty hit reaches the top of the charts

An ode to the delights of buying second-hand clothes has climbed to the top of the singles chart. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz
hit the No 1 spot with "Thrift Shop".